Insect combatant controlled/prolonged delivery device

ABSTRACT

Device for insecticidal treatment including a transparent plastic container in the form of a dish whose open face has a flat flange; a plastic sheet impervious to liquids and permeable to the vapors of essential oils at ambient temperature, this sheet being attached to the flat flange of the transparent container and adhering to this transparent container so as not to be capable of being grasped manually, and/or detached manually from the flat flange by pulling manually; a protective cover sheet (or film) made of adhesive plastic, also arranged on the face of the transparent container which is provided with flat flanges, this sheet adhering to the above permeable sheet by adhesive bonding and being capable of being grasped manually and/or being detached from the flat flange by pulling manually; and an insecticidal and/or insect repellent composition, this composition being liquid or capable of evaporating completely at ambient temperature and having an insecticidal and/or insect repellent activity in the vapor state.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 08/850,704, filed May 2, 1997, now allowed U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,423,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/411,169,filed Mar. 27, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,955, which in turn is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/234,417,filed Apr. 28, 1994, abandoned and claims the benefit of priorityapplication French Patent Application No. 93 11762, filed Sep. 28, 1993.The contents of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/850,704, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/234,417 and priority French Patent ApplicationNo. 93 11762, are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a new device which may be used forinsecticidal and/or insect repellent treatment within human dwellingsand, more particularly, for such treatments in confined spaces againstclothes moths.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Articles for the release of volatile substances, such as deodorizers,insecticides, repellents and the like are known.

Hyman discloses, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,283, U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,468 andEuropean Patent Application No. 0 019 010, devices formed from opposedouter and inner wall members joined along their peripheral portions todefine a central reservoir portion for receiving and confining avolatile substance. The inner and outer wall members contain a liquidnon-porous but gas permeable flexible polymeric sheet material having animpermeable barrier layer releasably bonded to the outer surfacesthereof.

Sullivan et al discloses, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,440, a device forreleasing a volatile substance into the environment in a controlledmanner. The device includes a permeable envelope portion having agreater affinity for the volatile substance than the reservoir material.

Hennart et al discloses, in French Patent Publication No. 2,075,314, anapparatus for the diffusion of insecticide. The apparatus is made byimpregnating a fibrous substance with an insecticide solution anddipping it into a molten outer-layer mixture.

Hachiro discloses, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-252462, anapparatus for dissipating a volatile chemical. The apparatus includesstoring volatile materials in separate chambers of thermoplasticsynthetic resin.

Minier discloses, in French Patent Publication No. 2663507, discloses aparasite controlling device. The device comprises an element made of awood having antiparasitic activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a major object of the present invention is the provision ofa new device which can be used for insecticidal and/or insect repellenttreatment within human dwellings and more particularly, for suchtreatments in confined spaces against moths.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that itincludes:

a transparent plastic container in the form of a dish whose open facehas a flat flange;

a plastic sheet (or membrane) impervious to liquids and permeable tovapors of essential oils at ambient temperature, this sheet beingattached to a flat flange of the transparent container and adhering tothis transparent container so as not to be capable of being graspedmanually, and/or detached manually from the flat flange by pullingmanually;

a protective cover sheet (or film) made of adhesive plastic, alsoarranged on the face of the transparent container which is provided withflat flanges, this sheet adhering to the above permeable sheet byadhesive bonding and being capable of being grasped manually and/orbeing detached from the flat flange by pulling manually;

an insecticidal and/or insect repellent composition, this compositionbeing liquid or capable of evaporating completely at ambient temperatureand having an insecticidal and/or insect repellent activity in the vaporstate;

optionally, means for attaching and/or hanging the device and/or thetransparent container; and

optionally, a cardboard package folded in two, so as to contain withinit the flat edges and the two permeable and protective sheets, thetransparent dish being visible and transparent outside this cardboardpackage.

Other objects, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will bepointed out in or will be understood from the following detaileddescription provided below in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an embodiment of theinvention in its insecticidal and/or insect repellent functioning statewithout the cardboard package shown.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an embodiment of theinvention in a state in which it is suitable for storage without thecardboard package shown.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an embodiment of theinvention in a state in which it is suitable for storage, sale or use.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of theinvention illustrating a protective sheet covering the device.

FIGS. 5a and 5 b are horizontal cross-sectional views of embodiments ofthe invention where a cardboard package contains the device illustratedin FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BEST MODE AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THEINVENTION

More particularly according to the present invention, there is provideda new device for insecticidal treatment and method for its use indwellings.

The device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention ischaracterized in that it includes:

a transparent plastic container in the form of a dish whose open facehas a flat flange;

a plastic sheet (or membrane) impervious to liquids and permeable tovapors of essential oils at ambient temperature, this sheet beingattached to a flat flange of the transparent container and adhering tothis transparent container so as not to be capable of being graspedmanually, and/or detached manually from the flat flange by pullingmanually;

a protective cover sheet (or film) made of adhesive plastic, alsoarranged on the face of the transparent container which is provided withflat flanges, this sheet adhering to the above permeable sheet byadhesive bonding and being capable of being grasped manually and/orbeing detached from the flat flange by pulling manually;

an insecticidal and/or insect repellent composition, this compositionbeing liquid or capable of evaporating completely at ambient temperatureand having an insecticidal and/or insect repellent activity in the vaporstate;

optionally, means for attaching and/or hanging the device and/or thetransparent container; and

optionally, a cardboard package folded in two, so as to contain withinit the flat edges and the two permeable and protective sheets, thetransparent dish being visible and transparent outside this cardboardpackage.

Examples of preferred embodiments of the devices according to thepresent invention are provided in FIGS. 1-5. More particularly, in FIG.1, the transparent dish contains a liquid 2 and is covered with thepermeable membrane 3. In addition to the insecticidal and/or repellentcomposition, the dish or transparent container may also contain a smallquantity of air, for example, 1 to 10% by volume.

In FIG. 5, the cardboard package contains the device of FIG. 2 so thatthe flanges are inside. The cardboard package may act as an advertisingdisplay device. According to an alternative form of the invention thiscardboard package comprises a cavity or a removable part allowing theprotective film to be pulled out without detaching the transparentcontainer from this cardboard package. This alternative form of theinvention is particularly advantageous in that it makes it possible toleave the instructions concerning the method of use and the nature ofthe content of the device of the invention, so that they are visible on,the package of the device of the invention when it is in use andfunctioning. Such instructions are useful for the purpose of safety inuse.

The device according to the invention is particularly suitable forconfined spaces, especially in closed spaces of small volume such as theinterior of pieces of furniture, wardrobes and cupboards. Although itcan be employed against various type of insects, the device of theinvention is particularly advantageous against clothes moths. The deviceaccording to the invention is therefore particularly advantageous forthe protection of textiles in confined spaces, especially the protectionof garments and furniture in dwellings such as flats or houses.

Another advantage of the device of the invention is that it makes iteasily possible to choose the period of use (for example, 1 month, or 2months, or 6 months or another) when the said device is manufactured.This period can thus be simply changed.

An advantage of the device according to the invention is that it iseffective for a long period. In addition, when the insecticidal orrepellent product is exhausted, the user has the possibility of verysimply seeing and concluding that the transparent container is empty andmust be replaced. Consequently, the insecticidal and/or repellentactivity is maintained continuously and there is no intermediate periodwithout any insecticide/repellent activity, and this is cruciallyimportant so as not to leave periods without insecticide/repellentduring which the insects can again reproduce and develop and causedamage.

In the case of clothes moths, the invention is particularly advantageousin that it makes it possible to prevent damage to textiles, especiallygarments, during intermediate periods without any active substance.

The two sheets, one permeable and one protective, can adhere to thetransparent container by adhesive bonding or by welding. Either way,this is done so that the adhesion of the permeable sheet is muchstronger than the adhesion of the protective sheet, with the result thatthe protective sheet can be detached by pulling manually, while thepermeable sheet cannot be detached by pulling manually. The differencein the adhesion can be obtained by either using the size of the areaover which adhesion is present (and this is the preferable means), orusing the nature of the adhesive.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the device according to FIG. 1. The hatchedpart 4 shows the area where adhesion takes place between the transparentcontainer 1 and the transparent sheet 3. The region 7 corresponds to theliquid 2 seen from above.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the device according to FIG. 2. The hatchedpart shows the area 6 where the adhesion takes place between thetransparent container 1 and the transparent sheet 3. Two illustrationshave been made, according to whether the protective sheet 4 does or doesnot overlap the permeable membrane 3.

The insecticidal and/or repellent liquid compositions are advantageouslycompositions containing generally from 20 to 85%, and preferably from 40to 75%, of essential oils, and from 15 to 80%, and preferably from 25 to60%, of an evaporation agent (or diffusion agent).

Examples of essential oils include cedar foliage essence, thuya essence,lavender essence, lavandin essence, lemon tree essence, Litsea cubebaessence and Verty essence. Preferred essential oils usable according tothe invention are cedar foliage essence and lavender essence.

The evaporation agent or diffusion agent usable according to theinvention, can be one of the constituents of the essential oil.Preferably, the evaporation agent is a liquid which has a rate ofevaporation at least two times higher, and preferably more than threetimes higher, than the rate of evaporation of the main active substance.This evaporation agent is advantageously miscible with the main activesubstance. More preferably, this evaporation agent or diffusion agent isone of the following compounds: hexyl acetate (and preferably n-hexylacetate), isobutyl acetate, cyclohexyl acetate, prenyl acetate, isononylacetate, isobornyl acetate, linalyl acetate, benzyl acetate, ethylbutyrate, camphor, ethyl caproate, methyl caproate, carene, limonene (orterpene essence derived of orange), allyl heptanoate, methyl hexeoate,ethyl isobutyrate, methyl pentylketone, myrcene, phaellandrene, pinene,butyl valerianate, terpinolene, and paraffin oils (saturatedhydrocarbons liquids at ambient temperature). The evaporation agent ordiffusion agent can be used straight or in mixture. The evaporationagent or diffusion agents, listed herein above, have a remarkableefficacy when they are used in mixture with essential oils.

The liquid insecticidal and/or repellent compositions according to theinvention may also contain dying agents in a quantity preferably below1%. They also may contain various aromatic compounds such as substancesderivating from vanillin such as ethyl vanillin, coumarin, santal woodessence, terpinyl acetate, citral delphens and turpentine essence. Thesecompounds may constitute from 2 to 40% of the compositions according tothe invention.

The transparent containers are advantageously made of polymeric materialsuch as polyethylene or polypropylene or their copolymers. The thicknessof the material is sufficient to prevent any permeation either of theliquid or of its vapor. The effective volume of the container isgenerally between 2 and 120 cm³.

The nature and the thickness of the permeable membrane or permeablesheet are chosen so as to exhibit the permeability characteristicsindicated above.

Advantageously, the polymeric membrane chosen must satisfy the followingtest: A container full of 10 g of cedar wood essence is provided with afree face applied against a vertical membrane, on a surface of 14 cm².The membrane allows 0.8 g of the oil to evaporate after 6 months.

Membranes which are particularly suitable for the purpose of theinvention are membrane made of polymeric materials, such as high densitypolyethylene with a thickness of 50 to 300 microns. The area used forthe permeation is generally between 5 and 35 cm².

The protective sheets or membranes are advantageously made of polymericmaterial such as polypropylene. They are provided with an adhesivebonding agent capable of not damaging the permeable membrane when theprotective sheet is detached from this membrane.

In order to further illustrate the present invention and the advantagesthereof, the following specific examples are given, it being understoodthat same are intended only as illustrative and in nowise limitative.

EXAMPLE 1

A container in the shape of a dish 8 mm in depth contained 10 g of amixture comprising 55% by weight cedar wood essence, 5% cedar foliageessence, 10% isobornyl acetate (diffusion agent), 10% terpene essencederived from orange (diffusion agent), 5% turpentine essence, 5%phaellandrene (diffusion agent), 15% benzyl acetate,(diffusion agent).All the adjuvants in this composition had a rate of evaporation whichwas more than 3 times higher than that of the cedar wood essence.

This container was made of semi-rigid and transparent polypropylene 0.5mm thick. On the flat flange of this transparent container, there was apermeable membrane of 200 micron high density polyethylene whoseeffective area for the permeation (equal to the area of the opening ofthe transparent container) was 14 cm².

The device was produced in a form as described in the drawings attachedto the present description.

The protective sheet was made of 280 micron polypropylene and wasprovided with an adhesive. One corner of this protective layer was leftwithout adhesive so that this layer could be grasped manually.

This device was hung in a confined space of 1 m³ for 3 months. At theend of the 3 months, 9 g of the mixture was seen to have disappeared.

This result can be compared with the results of the same test made withcedar wood essence without use of a diffusion agent. In this case, 0.8 gof the mixture was seen to have disappeared.

At the beginning of the three months, garments were hung in the confinedspace, and the device, as described above, was hung, and then clothesmoths larvae was deposited in 3 separate places of the hanging garments.

At the end of the 3 months, it was seen that the garments did notsustained any damage, the larvae were dead, and there was no chrysalisnor any other form of insect in any stage of development of the clothesmoth life cycle.

EXAMPLE 2

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but using a containercontaining 10% lavender essence, 33% lavandin essence, 22% linalyleacetate (diffusion agent), 30% limonene, 5% of isononyl acetate(diffusion agent).

The results obtained were similar to those of Example 1.

EXAMPLE 3

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but using a containercontaining 5% metadelphene, 20% lemon tree essence, 25% citral, 10%paraffinic oil (diffusion agent), 5% limonene (diffusion agent), and 35%terpinyl acetate.

The results obtained were similar to those of Example 1.

EXAMPLE 4

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but using a containercontaining 40% cedar wood essence, 5% cedar foliage essence, 20%isononyle acetate (diffusion agent), 2% ethylvanillin, 2% coumarin, 15%phaellandrene (diffusion agent), 16% santal wood essence.

The results obtained were similar to those of Example 1.

While the invention has been described in terms of various preferredembodiments, the skilled artisan will appreciate that variousmodifications, substitutions, omissions, and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, it is intended that thescope of the present invention be limited solely by the scope of thefollowing claims, including equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device suitable for combating insects,comprising: a transparent plastic container in the form of a dish whoseopen face has a flat flange, the container having an effective volumebetween 2 and 120 cm³ and an effective area for permeation between 5 and35 cm²; a plastic sheet or membrane made of polyethylene, impervious toliquids and permeable to the vapors of essential oils at ambienttemperature, wherein said vapors are emanated from a liquid insecticidaland/or insect repellant composition contained in the plastic container,said plastic sheet or membrane having a thickness of 50 to 300 microns,said sheet or membrane being attached to said flat flange of thetransparent container and adhering to said transparent container; aprotective cover sheet made of adhesive polyethylene and/orpolypropylene, impervious to liquids and to the vapors of essential oilsat ambient temperature, also arranged on the face of the transparentcontainer, said cover sheet adhering to the permeable sheet by adhesivebonding; and said insecticidal and/or insect repellent composition beinga liquid capable of evaporating completely at ambient temperature andhaving an insecticidal and/or insect repellent activity in the vaporstate, and containing an essential oil selected from the groupconsisting of cedar wood essence, cedar foliage essence, thuya essence,lavender essence, lavandin essence, lemon tree essence, Litsea cubebaessence, Verty essence and mixtures thereof as well as a diffusion orevaporation agent, wherein the liquid insecticidal and/or repellentcomposition contains 20 to 85% of one or more essential oils, 15 to 80%of a diffusion or evaporation agent, and optionally 2 to 40% of anaromatic compound.
 2. A device according to claim 1, further comprisingmeans for attaching and/or hanging the device.
 3. A device according toclaim 1, further comprising a cardboard package folded in two, so as tocontain within it the flat edges and the two permeable and protectivesheets, the transparent dish being visible and transparent outside thiscardboard package.
 4. A device according to claim 1 wherein thecardboard package comprises a cavity or a detachable part allowing theprotective film to be pulled off without detaching the transparentcontainer from this cardboard package.
 5. A device according to claim 1,wherein said composition is active in destroying or repelling clothesmoths.
 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid insecticidaland/or repellent composition contains 40 to 75% of said essential oils.7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the essential oil is cedarwood essence or lavender essence.
 8. A device according to claim 1,wherein the diffusion or evaporation agent is a liquid agent misciblewith the main active compound and has a rate of evaporation at least twotimes higher than the rate of evaporation of the main active substance.9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said rate of evaporation ofsaid diffusion or evaporation agent is at least three times higher thanthe rate of evaporation of the main active substance.
 10. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the diffusion or evaporation agent ishexyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, cyclohexyl acetate, prenyl acetate,isononyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, linalyl acetate, benzyl acetate,ethyl butyrate, camphor, ethyl caproate, methyl caproate, carene,limonene (or terpene essence derived of orange), allyl heptanoate,methyl hexeoate, ethyl isobutyrate, methyl pentylketone, myrcene,phaellandrene, pinene, butyl valerianate, terpinolene, and paraffin oilsor mixtures thereof.
 11. A device according to claim 1, wherein themembrane is a polymeric membrane that will permit 0.8 g of the oil toevaporate after six months when said container is filled with 10 g ofcedar wood essence, provided with a free face applied against a verticalmembrane to provide an effective area for permeation of 14 cm².
 12. Aregime for combatting or controlling insects, comprising placing thedevice according to claim 1 in close proximity to textiles, garments orfurniture for a prolonged period to repel said insects.
 13. The regimeof combatting or controlling insects according to claim 12, comprisingplacing said device in close proximity to said textiles, garments orfurniture until empty, and then placing a second device in closeproximity to said textiles, garments or furniture without a period ofinterruption of protection.
 14. A device according to claim 1, furthercomprising non-adhesive means for attaching and/or hanging the device.15. A device for combating insects, comprising: a transparent plasticcontainer in the form of a dish whose open face has a flat flange; aplastic sheet or membrane impervious to liquids and permeable to thevapors of essential oils at ambient temperature, wherein said vapors areemanated from a liquid insecticidal and/or repellant compositioncontained in the plastic container, said sheet or membrane beingattached to said flat flange of the transparent container and adheringto said transparent container, said sheet or membrane having aneffective area of permeation between 5 and 35 cm² and a thickness and apermeability effective to maintain insecticidal and/or repellantactivity for a period of one month to six months; a protective coversheet made of a plastic material which is impervious to liquids and tothe vapors of essential oils at ambient temperature, also arranged onthe face of the transparent container, said cover sheet adhering to thepermeable sheet by adhesive bonding; said insecticidal and/or insectrepellent composition being a liquid capable of evaporating completelyat ambient temperature and having an insecticidal and/or insectrepellent activity in the vapor state, and containing 20 to 85% of oneor more essential oils selected from the group consisting of cedar woodessence, lavender essence, cedar foliage essence, thuya essence,lavandin essence, lemon tree essence, Litsea cubeba essence, Vertyessence and mixtures thereof, 15 to 80% of a diffusion or evaporationagent in the form of a liquid chemical, miscible with said essential oiland having a rate of evaporation at least two times higher than the rateof evaporation of said essential oil, and 2 to 40% of an aromaticcompound; non-adhesive means for attaching and/or hanging the device;and said container having an effective volume between 2 and 120 cm³. 16.A device according to claim 15, wherein said composition is active indestroying or repelling clothes moths.
 17. A device according to claim15, wherein the liquid insecticidal and/or repellent compositioncontains 40 to 75% of said essential oils.
 18. A device according toclaim 15, wherein the liquid insecticidal and/or repellent compositioncontains 25 to 60% of said diffusion or evaporation agent.
 19. A deviceaccording to claim 15, wherein the essential oil is cedar wood essenceor lavender essence.
 20. A device according to claim 15, wherein saidrate of evaporation of said diffusion or evaporation agent is at leastthree times higher than the rate of evaporation of the main activesubstance.
 21. A device according to claim 15, wherein the diffusion orevaporation agent is hexyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, cyclohexylacetate, prenyl acetate, isononyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, linalylacetate, benzyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, camphor, ethyl caproate, methylcaproate, carene, limonene, terpene essence derived of orange, allylheptanoate, methyl hexeoate, ethyl isobutyrate, methyl pentylketone,myrcene, phaellandrene, pinene, butyl valerianate, terpinolene, andparaffin oils or mixtures thereof.
 22. A device according to claim 15,wherein the membrane is a polymeric membrane that will permit 0.8 g ofthe oil to evaporate after six months when said container is filled with10 g of cedar wood essence, provided with a free face applied against avertical membrane to provide an effective area for permeation of 14 cm².23. A device according to claim 15, wherein the thickness of thepermeable membrane is 50 to 300 microns.
 24. A device according to claim15, wherein the permeable membrane is made of polyethylene.
 25. A regimefor combating or controlling insects, comprising placing the deviceaccording to claim 15 in close proximity to textiles, garments orfurniture for a prolonged period to repel said insects.
 26. The regimeof combating or controlling insects according to claim 25, comprisingplacing said device in close proximity to said textiles, garments orfurniture until empty, and then placing a second device in closeproximity to said textiles, garments or furniture without a period ofinterruption of protection.
 27. A device according to claim 15, whereinthe thickness of the permeable membrane is 50 to 300 microns, and thediffusion or evaporation agent is hexyl acetate, isobutyl acetate,cyclohexyl acetate, prenyl acetate, isononyl acetate, isobornyl acetate,linalyl acetate, benzyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, camphor, ethylcaproate, methyl caproate, carene, limonene, terpene essence derived oforange, allyl heptanoate, methyl hexeoate, ethyl isobutyrate, methylpentylketone, myrcene, phaellandrene, pinene, butyl valerianate,terpinolene, and paraffin oils or mixtures thereof.
 28. A device forcombating insects, comprising: a transparent plastic container in theform of a dish whose open face has a flat flange; a plastic sheet ormembrane impervious to liquids and permeable to the vapors of essentialoils at ambient temperature, said sheet or membrane being attached tosaid flat flange of the transparent container and adhering to saidtransparent container; a protective cover sheet made of polypropylene,impervious to liquids and to the vapors of essential oils at ambienttemperature, also arranged on the face of the transparent container,said cover sheet adhering to the permeable sheet by adhesive bonding; aninsecticidal and/or insect repellent composition contained in theplastic container, said composition being a liquid capable ofevaporating completely at ambient temperature and having an insecticidaland/or insect repellent activity in the vapor state, and containing anessential oil selected from cedar wood essence, cedar foliage essence,thuya essence, lavender essence, lavandin essence, lemon tree essence,Litsea cubeba essence, Verty essence and mixtures thereof, and adiffusion or evaporation agent in the form of a liquid chemical selectedfrom hexyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, cyclohexyl acetate, prenylacetate, isononyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, linalyl acetate, benzylacetate, ethyl butyrate, camphor, ethyl caproate, methyl caproate,carene, limonene, terpene essence derived of orange, allyl heptanoate,methyl hexeoate, ethyl isobutyrate, methyl pentylketone, myrcene,phaellandrene, pinene, butyl valerianate, terpinolene, paraffin oils,and mixtures thereof; non-adhesive means for attaching and/or hangingthe device; and wherein said container has an effective volume between 2and 120 cm³, and wherein the sheet or membrane is a polymeric membranehaving a thickness of 50 to 300 microns that will permit 0.8 g of theoil to evaporate after six months when said container is filled with 10g of cedar wood essence and with a free face applied against a verticalmembrane to provide an effective area for permeation of 14 cm².
 29. Adevice according to claim 28, wherein the permeable membrane is made ofpolyethylene.
 30. A device for combating insects, comprising: atransparent plastic container in the form of a dish whose open face hasa flat flange; a plastic sheet or membrane impervious to liquids andpermeable to the vapors of essential oils at ambient temperature,wherein said vapors are emanated from a liquid insecticidal and/orinsect repellant composition contained in the plastic container, saidsheet or membrane being attached to said flat flange of the transparentcontainer and adhering to said transparent container, said sheet ormembrane having an effective area of permeation between 5 and 35 cm² anda thickness and a permeability effective to maintain insecticidal and/orrepellant activity for a period of one month to six months; a protectivecover sheet made of polypropylene, impervious to liquids and to thevapors of essential oils at ambient temperature, also arranged on theface of the transparent container, said cover sheet adhering to thepermeable sheet by adhesive bonding; said insecticidal and/or insectrepellent composition being a liquid capable of evaporating completelyat ambient temperature and having an insecticidal and/or insectrepellent activity in the vapor state, and containing 20 to 85% of oneor more essential oils selected from the group consisting of cedar woodessence, cedar foliage essence, thuya essence, lavender essence,lavandin essence, lemon tree essence, Litsea cubeba essence, Vertyessence and mixtures thereof, 15 to 80% of a diffusion or evaporationagent in the form of a liquid chemical, miscible with said essential oiland having a rate of evaporation at least two times higher than the rateof evaporation of said essential oil, and 2 to 40% of an aromaticcompound, wherein the diffusion or evaporation agent is hexyl acetate,isobutyl acetate, cyclohexyl acetate, prenyl acetate, isononyl acetate,isobornyl acetate, linalyl acetate, benzyl acetate, ethyl butyrate,camphor, ethyl caproate, methyl caproate, carene, limonene, terpeneessence derived of orange, allyl heptanoate, methyl hexeoate, ethylisobutyrate, methyl pentylketone, myrcene, phaellandrene, pinene, butylvalerianate, terpinolene, and paraffin oils or mixtures thereof;non-adhesive means for attaching and/or hanging the device; and saidcontainer having an effective volume between 2 and 120 cm³.
 31. A devicefor combating insects, comprising: a transparent plastic container inthe form of a dish whose open face has a flat flange; a plastic sheet ormembrane impervious to liquids and permeable to the vapors of essentialoils at ambient temperature, wherein said vapors are emanated from aliquid insecticidal and/or insect repellant composition contained in theplastic container, said sheet or membrane being attached to said flatflange of the transparent container and adhering to said transparentcontainer, said sheet or membrane having an effective area of permeationbetween 5 and 35 cm² and a thickness and a permeability effective tomaintain insecticidal and/or repellant activity for a period of onemonth to six months; a protective cover sheet made of a plastic materialwhich is impervious to liquids and to the vapors of essential oils atambient temperature, also arranged on the face of the transparentcontainer, said cover sheet adhering to the permeable sheet by adhesivebonding; said insecticidal and/or insect repellent composition being aliquid capable of evaporating completely at ambient temperature andhaving an insecticidal and/or insect repellent activity in the vaporstate, and containing 20 to 85% of one or more essential oils selectedfrom the group consisting of cedar wood essence, cedar foliage essence,thuya essence, lavender essence, lavandin essence, lemon tree essence,Litsea cubeba essence, Verty essence and mixtures thereof, 15 to 80% ofa diffusion or evaporation agent in the form of a liquid chemical,miscible with said essential oil and having a rate of evaporation atleast two times higher than the rate of evaporation of said essentialoil, and 2 to 40% of an aromatic compound; non-adhesive means forattaching and/or hanging the device; said container having an effectivevolume between 2 and 120 cm³; wherein the membrane is a polymericmembrane that will permit 0.8 g of the oil to evaporate after six monthswhen said container is filled with 10 g of cedar wood essence, providedwith a free face applied against a vertical membrane to provide aneffective area for permeation of 14 cm².
 32. A device for combatinginsects, comprising: a transparent plastic container in the form of adish whose open face has a flat flange; a plastic sheet or membraneimpervious to liquids and permeable to the vapors of essential oils atambient temperature, wherein said vapors are emanated from a liquidinsecticidal and/or insect repellant composition contained in theplastic container, said sheet or membrane being attached to said flatflange of the transparent container and adhering to said transparentcontainer, said sheet or membrane having an effective area of permeationbetween 5 and 35 cm² and a thickness and a permeability effective tomaintain insecticidal and/or repellant activity for a period of onemonth to six months; a protective cover sheet made of polypropylene,impervious to liquids and to the vapors of essential oils at ambienttemperature, also arranged on the face of the transparent container,said cover sheet adhering to the permeable sheet by adhesive bonding;said insecticidal and/or insect repellent composition being a liquidcapable of evaporating completely at ambient temperature and having aninsecticidal and/or insect repellent activity in the vapor state, andcontaining 20 to 85% of one or more essential oils selected from thegroup consisting of cedar wood essence, cedar foliage essence, thuyaessence, lavender essence, lavandin essence, lemon tree essence, Litseacubeba essence, Verty essence and mixtures thereof, 15 to 80% of adiffusion or evaporation agent in the form of a liquid chemical,miscible with said essential oil and having a rate of evaporation atleast two times higher than the rate of evaporation of said essentialoil, wherein the thickness of the permeable membrane is 50 to 300microns, and the diffusion or evaporation agent is hexyl acetate,isobutyl acetate, cyclohexyl acetate, prenyl acetate, isononyl acetate,isobornyl acetate, linalyl acetate, benzyl acetate, ethyl butyrate,camphor, ethyl caproate, methyl caproate, carene, limonene, terpeneessence derived of orange, allyl heptanoate, methyl hexeoate, ethylisobutyrate, methyl pentylketone, myrcene, phaellandrene, pinene, butylvalerianate, terpinolene, and paraffin oils or mixtures thereof, and 2to 40% of an aromatic compound; non-adhesive means for attaching and/orhanging the device; and said container having an effective volumebetween 2 and 120 cm³.